Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-04-09

and patented q very useful domestic 6FLlcAes
the sale OF which already brought him a
good income, and which. / may say, has
since made him very wealthy. Fathers
health was declining; and / was prepared
for the intelligence OF his death, which
reached me at New York, where / lay some
weeks In the hospital. have already
told how CaToWs home became mine.
Poor, shattered wreck that / was, he
made a hero OF me; such ten
der and affschonats treatment, during
a long lifetime, surely no soldier ever re-
eeiVed before / come down to our con-
versation Of last night The children had
been put to bed, and We two we're sitting
together in no
nook; he leaned back his
chair, his gray head and inc laee making
an almost perfect picture Of our father.
Suddenly he turned 10 me.
Carson put up your book; want to
talk. The fact IS there's been something
on nay mind for about forty years. and It
troubles me. See here"
He went to a secretary, and unlocking
drawer brought me an envelope addressed
to me In fathers Fell-knoWn round hand.
@He gave ne that week before be died,
charging me 20 deliver 1t to you. have
not done so before, because other express
sions that he used led me to believe that
the letter related to a subject that 1 did not
wish you ever to be informed about. But
Of course that was wrong. I should have
complied with my fathers request long
ago. Here is the letter.
Shall read itf"
ayes"
I opened the envelope.
Dear Carson my father said, there is
something that / want to say personally to
you; but my failing health warns me that
may never have an opportunity So 1
viii write it out, and leave it with Carroll
for you. need not say how proud We are
Of your success in the military profession.
and OF your good conduct IN Mexico.
I am the more gratihed, because never
expected 50 much Of you. I supposed
you would be brave, for that is in the
blood; you came of good Revolutionary
stock but did not think you had the IN
dustry and application to make an army
officer; nor that you had the steadiness Of
purpose to pursue the military career after
you had entered upon it. I have been
agreeably disappointed in you. But you
ought TO know now much you are indebted
to the generosity and forbearance of your
brother for the opportunity to acquire this
profession.
You viii remember how greatly Carroll
was agitated by my announcement of Mr..
Sanders offer, and by your eager claim for
the appointment There was more IN his
conduct at that time than I could account
for; and / took him aside the same night
and urged him to tell the whole truth.
-His answer was given with tears. To
my establishment, he told me that he had
been long enamored Of military life; that
he had conceived the idea Of going to West
Point; that he had some weeks before
written to Mr.. Sanders on the subject; and
that the letter had received was really an
answer to his own, although addressed Ome-
Il was surprised to hear all this, but
told Carroll that the matter must at once
be set right by full explanation OF it to
you.
He begged me to do nothing Of the
kind. Carson has set his heart upon it,
he said, and he must not be disappointed.
It viii hurt me dreadfully not to go, but 1t
viii please me to give way to Carson
yielded at last to his entreatiss, though the
tears stood IN his eyes as he spoke Of Civ
ing up his cherished project.
This, Carson, is the way you became a
soldier. Never forget what you owe to
Carroll"
never shall forget, long as my life may
be spared. Indeed, what do 1 not owe to
this sacrificing sOul2
handed him the open letter He read
it in silence and returned it, with the re-
mark:
at is as I thought 7 am sorry father
left this for you"
/ began to praise the generosity Of his
conduct, but he quickly interrupted me.
"NoW, really, Carson, you needn't talk
that way What have done that is so
praiseWorthy? 1 have allowed you to so
into the army instead of myself, and get
used up at that savage battle. Though If it
comes to that" and the twinkle came into
his eye, Il can't think should have been
in any danger. General Taylor couldn't
have got me within a mile of Buena
Vista"
Nonsense, Carroll! Remember what
father says in his letter about our Revolu-
donary stock.
Well don't know; but guess it was
nay duty to stay at home and invent the au-
be COM
Portable out Of tine money it would bring"
laid my arm atfecuOnately across his
shoulder
"Be perfectly serious, brother, and tell
me why you submitted to what was the Sc
Verest sacrifice Of your life"
His generous spirit shone radiantly from
his face as he answered:
II did not know the reason then, but I
have found it since, in the language Of
Saint Paul: Be kindly afectioned one to
another with brotherly love; in honor pre-
ferring one another"